Take a small dab of distilled white vinegar on a paper towel and apply it to an area around the scratch. The vinegar may cause the area to slightly swell. The faux leather will cover some of the scratches. The vinegar will also remove any stains like salt, cleaning the area. [1] X Research source
Apply the polish in a circular motion to spread it evenly over the area. Use medium pressure to evenly distribute the polish without harming the shoe. The clear shoe polish will not affect any of your shoe’s color. The buffing will help blend the affected and unaffected areas together.
You can buy paint in a variety of finishes. Try to match the sheen of your shoe as best you can with flat, eggshell, or glossy paint. Acrylic paint works best for painting your scratches and scrapes.
Modge Podge is an all-in-one sort of glue, sealer, and finish. You can use it on a variety of crafting projects. But it also works well for treating faux leather shoes. Shoe Goo is a similar product that has a variety of shoe-related purposes. Shoe Goo can be used to glue, seal, and finish as well. Shoe Goo is essentially rubber in a tube. Once it is applied and dried, it becomes a strong, flexible rubbery material. It will dry clear as well. [2] X Research source Depending on the damage you are trying to repair, you may find one to be better than the other. Or, you may want to use both.
Dabbing a small bit of paint to test-treat the area will allow you to make sure that the paint color blends well with the color of your shoes. If it does, you’re ready to continue.
You will want to use a small paintbrush so you only paint the scratches and not the larger area around the scratches. You can use a nail clipper or fine-grain sandpaper to remove any loose material around your scratches. Nail clippers will allow you to be more precise. Sandpaper may be better for larger areas that are closer to the sole of your shoes or boots. [3] X Research source
Again, nail clippers or even tweezers will allow you to remove any material in a specific area. However, if you have a larger area that needs to be repaired, the sandpaper will be more effective at smoothing these larger areas out.
Using your small paintbrush, dip the tip into your container holding your paint. You don’t need a lot. Less is better so you don’t cause the paint to transfer unevenly. Paint the scratches with smooth strokes. Let it sit for a minute or so. Wipe your brush on your paper towel to remove clumped paint.
Keep applying new coats until you have painted the scratches to your liking. Make sure to only use a small amount of paint with each coat. If the paint globs together you will end up with bubbles of paint on your shoes. Making the affected areas look uneven.
It’s best to use a different paint brush when applying the Modge Podge or Shoe Goo. If you are only using one brush, make sure to rinse it well and wipe off any paint with a paper towel before using it. After you’ve applied the Modge Podge or Shoe Goo, wipe the brush on a piece of paper to get all the excess off. Then use the brush to carefully feather the edges of your painted area so that you don’t have any visible lines. Shoe Goo is typically clear while Modge Podge paints on white. Don’t worry if the treatment has a color to it when painting on. Once it dries it will dry clear.
Polishing your shoes will help to fully blend all the areas of the shoe. Polish will smooth out any areas around your scratches that still stand out. As well as give your shoes a fresh look. Depending on the severity of your scratches, you may want to apply polish after your paint but before you seal the areas. Polishing the scratched area and then sealing will make the polish under your sealant more permanent.
Admire your awesome work by completely cleaning your shoes so that your pair looks as good as new. Let everything dry completely before wearing your shoes. If you wear your shoes or boots before letting everything set and dry you could cause cracks and scratches to reopen.
Use a waterproof spray and or shoe lube wax to protect your shoes from salt stains, water, and dirt. This extra protective step will help to keep the treated areas from showing again. It will also prevent new areas from becoming as damaged. If you spray your shoes, do so in a ventilated area. Make sure that whatever spray or lube you are using is suitable for your faux leather shoes.
